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The Origin of Love

On a day when people celebrate love, let us be reminded of the true origin of love.

作者：

Contented Breadcrumb

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Valentine’s Day - A day when people in the world celebrate love, when sales of flowers and chocolates rise, when many couples specially choose to spend quality time together.

As Christians, instead of following the practices of the world, which encourage us to indulge in fleshly desires and carry the risk of leading to sinful acts, let us be reminded of the true origin of love - God.

“God is love, and he who abides in love, abides in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16b)

Without God, there is no love. Love is not just saying a simple “I love you”, or gifting chocolates and a hundred roses to someone, but it is about sacrifice.

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)

Before we were born, before we even knew God, God already loved us. Hence, He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, into the world to die on the cross for all our sins. He did it because He loved us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)

How then should we respond to His love?

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11)

Because God first loved us, therefore we love one another. We sacrifice for one another, be it our time, our energy, perhaps even our lives.

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

However, other than acts of sacrifice, love also has to be grounded in the truth.

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.” (1 John 5:2)

If we love God, if we love the children of God, then we will also keep His commandments, the truth written in the Bible, the Word of God.

Furthermore, the love of man - parental love, brotherly love, romantic love, all these will one day come to an end. It is only the love of God, the love between man and God, which will last eternally.

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

May our love for God endure forever.

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Good Comparison, Or Bad Comparison?

Good Comparison, Or Bad Comparison?

It is human nature to compare ourselves with others. Whether it is with our friends, our family, or even people who we see on the internet. Some may argue that comparison is good because it allows us to see our weaknesses and motivates us to improve ourselves. However, oftentimes comparison stems from our own pride and can lead us to feel discontented, resentful towards others and towards God. We can learn the difference between good and bad comparisons through the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke 18:9-14. In the parable, we can look into the comparisons each character made. The Pharisee compared himself to the tax collector. He measured his good works against the tax collector’s lack of such. And he really did do many good works! Not many of us are able to fast twice a week on our own accord. But because of this he grew to be self-righteous and despised others (Luke 18:11). On the other hand, the tax collector compared himself to God. Just as how even the smallest speck of dust is revealed when put under light, measuring himself against the standard of God highlighted his many sins. But because of this he was humble and sincerely repented for his sins (Luke 18:13). We should not compare ourselves with others. When we compare ourselves with others, our underlying intention is that we hope to feel better about ourselves. Exalting ourselves above others. To which Jesus actually notes in Matthew 23:12, that our comparing has the adverse effect of lowering ourselves for “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled”. Paul also reminds that such comparisons are unwise (2 Corinthians 10:12). Our comparisons should be done against the standard of God. In doing so, it is like putting a white garment under bright light to examine whether it is spotless. It may feel counter intuitive. Because such comparisons won’t bring out feelings of self-confidence or pride. Instead, just like the tax collector, we are likely to feel unworthy of God and disheartened when we realise the multitude of our sins. This uncomfortable feeling is part of the process of being humbled. And how we react to that process will determine our growth as a Christian. We can choose to lift our heads high and pat ourselves on the back saying that we have done many good works, more so than the average person. Or we can bow our heads and cry out to God in remorse, asking for forgiveness.

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